Beatrice Blanche the youngest princess of the Blanche Family, is also known as the ugly duckling. She was abused her whole life by her siblings and parents and she sometimes wonders if she is their blood. Duke Arthur Lionel, the young lord of the north became the reason for winning countless wars together with the Crown Prince. After the war, he came back to his estate and killed all of his family members. That is when he was branded as the Monsterous Duke of the North. After marrying the duke, will Beatrice lead a happy life and fall in love with the duke? Or will Beatrice still have a miserable life? Will Duke Lionel open up to her wife and treat her well? Or Duke will also kill his wife like he did to his family?
Beatrice's POV
"Where have you been?" My cold father asked me as I arrived at our dining table for our breakfast.
"I-um I came down as soon as you called, Father" I replied while staring down at the floor. My father never asked me for every meal we had in this family which is why I was surprised when Katy told me to fix myself up for breakfast with the duke and others.
"Tsk, useless as ever" My father angrily told me. I bit my lip, scared that my father would hit me again.
When my father did not say anything else, I sat down and one of the maids gave me a plate full of food but the sight of the food made my insides turn. I feel so anxious and uncomfortable that I cannot swallow every food that I put in my mouth.
"Ouch" I shouted and immediately covered my mouth while looking at my father but it seemed that my father did not notice. I looked at my twin sibling who playfully threw a spoon at me.
I bit my lip to stop my tears from falling. My oldest brother Erick laughed beside me after the incident with the twins. My mother Erin cleared her throat and looked at my father while wiping her mouth.
"I believe it is the right time for Beatrice to get married," My mother said and I looked at her in disbelief.
"Yes, that is true. I'll search for some potential candidates to be your husband" My brother said while trying not to laugh out loud.
I looked at them in disbelief. "But Corina is older than I am Mother," I said. My father and brother stood up. Erick grabbed me by my hair and my father followed from behind, removing his belt. The tears that I kept holding back are now continuously falling down.
My brother closed the door while looking at me smirking and I looked at my father who was about to swing his belt at me. I instantly covered my head and face, bracing myself for the pain.
"P-please father, p-please, I won't talk back again. P-please stop" I beg at my father. He looked at me full of disgust and left the room.
I cried until my maid came into the room. She gasped as she saw my state on the floor and ran towards me. "Oh my lady," she said while hugging me. When I thought that I could not cry any longer, my tears came out falling out again.
"What did I do to deserve this?" I asked while crying on Katy's shoulder.
"Hush lady, hush, I'm so sorry" She apologized and I realized that she was also crying.
Two weeks have passed and my father called me again for a meal. I know what this is all about, it is about my wedding after I debuted in society. I looked out through my window, feeling nothing. Maybe this is for the best, maybe if I get married, it will be better than living here.
I arrived earlier than my brothers to our dining room and when I was about to open the doors. I heard my siblings laughing at each other. I grimaced at their voices. I quickly opened the door and went straight to my chair.
The meal was quiet until my father decided to ask about my oldest brother's achievement. "So how was the swordsmanship competition?" My father asked and my brother smiled, full of pride.
"I won of course" Erick replied without hesitation but my father's face grimaced.
"You won? Are you the champion?" My father asked and Erick instantly looked down to his plate while laughing nervously.
"The Duke of the North became the champion but I got to be the second prince's military captain," Erick said and continued to laugh nervously.
My father just looked at him and looked at my second brother. "How about you Cory? Did you get accepted to the government?" My asked and Cory smiled at father.
Cory just shrugged his shoulders. "I applied and they instantly smiled, thanking me for applying. So I know that there won't be any problems" Cory replied and Father smiled at him.
"You Beatrice"
My whole body froze at the voice of my father. "Yes, father?" I replied while looking down at my plate.
"After your debutante, you will get married immediately and I will introduce your soon-to-be husband at your debut," My father said and I nodded. I bit my lip and mustered all the courage I had to ask about Corina.
"How about sister Corina?" I asked nervously but my sister laughed out loud.
"Oh didn't you hear? I am one of the candidates of being the second prince's wife" Corina replied and looked at me straight in the eye, as if mocking me.
"Oh okay" I replied and smiled back at my sister.
I'm not jealous at all. Since all the people in the country know that the second prince is not that good of a person. I also heard that he kept torturing different maids to satisfy his lust. I shivered at that thought.
We finished the meal and I was so glad that there was no beating today. I immediately went back to my room and I lay down on my bed thinking about my kind of life when someone knocked on the door.
It was Katy with a stroller full of desserts with tea. I beamed at the sight of the desserts and immediately went to the sofa. While I enjoyed the tea and desserts, Katy kneeled down and held my hands. Looking up at me with teary eyes.
"What is wrong Katy?" I asked. "After you get married let's run away. I will look for a place for us to stay and hide from your family" She said and I instantly looked back at the door to see if it was closed properly.
"Katy, you know that you could be punished if someone heard you!" I said.
"But my lady, you are too good to live a life like this," She said crying. I hugged her and calmed her down.
"It's okay Katy, let's not talk about this again okay? I will not run away from my fate if this is truly what the Gods have planned for me" I said and smiled at Katy.
When Katy left my room I looked at my window. Yes, that's right. I will not run away, I will fight until I get my freedom and happiness.
I will show them that I don't deserve to be treated like this.
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